"The number of Attornies posted up for admission next term, outside the Court of King's Bench, are eighty-two. Surely some stop should be put to this growing evil, for there is not a doubt, but that, with an increase of Attornies, must consequently follow an increase of litigation. For where the numbers surpass all reasonable bounds, they will have recourse to the most desperate means to excite business."—(Times, Jan. 31, 1797.)
"The convict who was lately executed at Leicester, and who adopted the singular mode of travelling, in a post chaise, to the place of execution, was no less remarkable for his crimes, than a copious fund of low humour. He got the following notice put up in the most frequented houses in the town, 'Wanted an agreeable companion, in a post chaise, to go a journey of considerable length, and upon equal terms. Enquire for particulars at the Castle.' It is almost superfluous to mention that upon the terms being made known, the gentleman could not find a partner."—(Times, Sept. 8, 1797.)
The following is a somewhat curious Police Case (Times, Jan. 17, 1798): "Robert Richards, and William Packer, were indicted on a charge of assaulting Ryan Thackars, on the 30th of December, and robbing him of half a guinea, a 7s. piece, and 1s. 6d., in silver, his property.
"The Prosecutor was a Jew, and a common informer, in which character he had gone, on the above mentioned day, to the Fleet Prison, to serve the wife of Mr. Richards, with a notice to answer to an information for wearing hair powder without a licence. On his serving the Notice, Mr. Richards called him back, but he refusing to return, the other assaulted him, threw him down upon his back, said he knew him very well, that he was a damned informer, and that he should be pumped. Then the two Prisoners dragged him to the pump, and, with the assistance of others, kept pouring water upon him, for a quarter of an hour. A pail of water was afterwards thrown, by somebody, on his face. His clothes were all torn: and, when they let him go, he missed his money. Being asked by the Court if he could charge the Prisoners with having robbed him, he answered he could not; nor was the money found on them when apprehended. The Recorder then told the Jury, that as no charge was made out against the prisoners, they must acquit them.—Not Guilty."
"BASE COIN FINISHED AT NEWGATE.
"A very singular circumstance occurred a few days ago at the gaol of Newgate: One of the Magistrates of Police having received information that a person of the name of Pullen, a notorious offender who was sentenced to a year's imprisonment for dealing in base money, had been carrying on his former trade, while in confinement: that the base money of the similitude of a shilling, being previously prepared of blanched copper, with King William's head faintly impressed on one side, and plain on the other, was brought into the prison privately by Agents whom he employed: that after the Cells were locked up, this adroit Coiner prepared a liquid in which very thin pieces of silver were mixed, which, being rubbed upon the Copper shillings, instantly give them the appearance of worn down coin of the Mint: that he was assisted in the operation by several of the prisoners in the same ward, some of whom were his associates in iniquity, and convicted of offences against the Mint Laws: That his customers came regularly to the prison, and purchased the base money so finished at two for one, paying sixpence for each shilling, although intrinsically not worth a halfpenny: that the dies, and some other implements for coining belonging to these delinquents, had been actually lodged in their trunks at Newgate, and they were brought there privately, on every alarm of danger from officers of justice, as a place of greater security. This information having been communicated to Sir William Staines, one of the present Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, with the zeal for the public good which characterises the active Magistrate, he went alone to Newgate, early in the morning, before the cells were unlocked, and caused the trunks, and boxes, belonging to the persons convicted of offences against the Mint Laws, to be searched; and, in a trunk concealed under Pullen's bed, were found no less than £107, 2s. of base money, of the similitude of shillings, ready for circulation, and a machine for rounding, or milling, the edges of half crowns; and in another trunk belonging to an associate of Pullen, were found two plain dies, and two others for halfpence, and farthings. It would appear that some other dies for halfcrowns, and shillings, which had been deposited for some time in a trunk belonging to Pullen, were removed, together with the book he kept for entering the names of his customers who visited him, for the purpose of purchasing base money for the town, and country, circulation.... The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs have investigated the means by which these nefarious practices have been carried on, and, we are happy to learn, that it arose entirely from the arts, and devices, so familiar to criminals, without the knowledge, or privity, of the Turnkeys. The result is, that the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs are taking immediate steps for establishing such rules, as will probably prevent a repetition of the same evil."—(Times, Nov. 29, 1796.)
PRIZE FIGHTING AND DUELS.
Prize fighting was beginning to develop into a fine art, and it was thought no more derogatory in a fine gentleman to assist, by his presence, at a "Mill," than to be present at a Cock fight. It was patronised by Royalty, as we see by the following Newspaper Cutting. Indeed, the Prince of Wales attended several prize fights, until a man was killed, and then he left the ring to itself.
"On Friday, a battle was fought at Blackheath between Crabbe, a Jew, and Oliver, commonly called Death; in which the former was victorious. All the great patrons, and distinguished professors of this fine art were present, and many bets were laid. The battle was honoured, in particular, by the attendance of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales."—(Morning Post, April 18, 1788.)
Even those "feeble folk," those superfine gentlemen, the Macaronis, learned to use their fists, as we see by this illustration.